Posts tagged ‘Forsyth Park’

Forsyth Park Fountain

Here are some #OMGFacts about Forsyth Park. All facts are designed for brevity, and are 14o characters or less. Feel free to tweet them, recite them to friends, or use them as you please. You may add your own 140-character facts/tweets in comments.

• The park was originally created in the 1840s on 10 acres of land. In 1851, the park was expanded &  named for Ga. Governor John Forsyth.
• Standing in the middle of Forsyth Park lies the Confederate Memorial Statue, commemorating those volunteers who fought for the Confederacy.
• The park hosts a fort, built in 1912 for the Georgia National Guard. The fort was converted into a cafe/rest area/band shell this year.
• The Forsyth Park fort/band shell renovations cost $6.5 Million. They started in 2004, and were completed in Dec. 2009.
• The Forsyth Park fountain was added in 1858, and is similar to Place de la Concorde in Paris. It is Savannah’s most photographed monuments.

Forsyth Park is located in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District. You can learn more about Savannah’s history by reading Savannah #OMGFacts, or better yet, visiting Savannah. Make sure you stay at Heritage House, a Historic District Savannah vacation rental, when you come.

One of my favorite family events in Savannah is just around the corner. The Annual Sidewalk Arts Festival is scheduled this year for Saturday, April 25th.

This event, sponsored by Savannah College of Art and Design, is a great family activity for anyone visiting Savannah, whether you are on a budget or not.

For several hours, students let their imaginations run wild and draw chalk pictures on the sidewalks of Forsyth Park in Savannah’s Historic District.  Over the years, we’ve seen intricate renditions of dragons, sunsets, Savannah scenery, exotic fish and many more themes.

There is a competition for current SCAD students, alumni and prospective students. And, there’s also a faculty and student art exhibition, which is also a real treat.

Admission is free, and it’s open to the public. There’s also music, food kiosks and other entertainment for the kids.

But, what I like about it most is that it shows kids (particularly younger ones) that they don’t need video games or computers or even play dates for entertainment. They can sit down on the sidewalk with a couple pieces of colored chalk and draw whatever is on their mind.

That’s a great lesson to learn, even if it’s just one day a year.

For more information, visit the Sidewalk Arts Festival site.

Traveling on a budget to Savannah? Try saving money by staying in a Historic Savannah Vacation Rental.

Child-friendly activities and a beach too!

Traveling with children under 6 is always a bit challenging. You need kid-friendly restaurants, plenty of diversions, parks and easy site-seeing opportunities.

If you’re interested in something more historic  and less expensive  than Disney World, you may want to try a Savannah vacation, particularly in the spring/summer months.

Savannah has the best of both worlds. It has a 100% walkable Historic District, with landmarks from the civil and revolutionary wars, as well as Tybee Island, a beach 20 minutes by car. So it’s a great way to split your time and keep both the parents and kids happy.

Historic District for Kids

The downtown Historic District – known for its beauty and rich history – also has wonderful places for kids to play. After living in Savannah for four years, we got to know them quite well (see pics below). Here are some of our favorites:

Roundhouse Railroad Museum – A favorite with boys. This outdoor museum has locomotives and a massive operating turntable from the 1800s. Kids can climb on the trains and let their imaginations run wild.

Whistle Stop Cafe – near the Roundhouse Railroad Museum on MLK Blvd., this cafe is actually a locomotive train. It’s great for breakfast and lunch.

Oatland Island- a wildlife habitat just outside of the Historic District. Plenty of animals to keep the family entertained – birds, alligators, deer, snake and many others.

Forsyth Park – This historic park, off of Gaston Street,  features a nice playground for kids, as well as large fields where they can run around. A coffee shop, the Sentient Bean, is nearby.

More than 20-well-coiffed squares – While these squares are a must-see for parents, kids love to play in them. Almost all the squares have historic monuments, so you can get a nice walking tour in while pushing a stroller.

River Street – While it’s highly focused on tourism, kids love to walk down this cobble-stone street and watch the boats on the river and the trolleys on the street.

There’s also events all spring and summer long that are perfect for kids. A good resource to find them is  Southern Mamas.

Historic District Vacation Rental

To get the best value for your vacation, try staying in a vacation rental in the Historic District, like the Gaston Street Getaway or Heritage House. You can walk to all the activities downtown, make meals in a fully equipped kitchen, and spread out in a house (instead of trying to cram the family into a hotel room).

Moreover, it’s only a twenty-minute ride to the beach. And, you can save money by staying downtown, instead of paying the in-season fees for beach rentals.

Hope Joelle doesn't fall in!

Colby pushing his sister's stroller near St. John the Baptist

Joelle and Colby playing in Forsyth Park

Resting at Forsyth Park

When most people talk about Savannah, they point out the majestic Oak trees, or the downtown Historic District, or the well-known restaurant, The Lady and Sons. But they often don’t mention that this famed, historic city is also dog-friendly.

Many of the vacation rentals in the Historic District, including the Heritage House and Gaston Street Getaway, will accept dogs (up to 20 pounds). Some hotels and B&Bs will also allow Spot to spend the night.

There are quite a few dog parks, too.  One of our favorites – which is located downtown – is the Matilda Beasley Dog Park. This park was created in 2008, and is behind the East Broad Street Elementary School.

Heading South from the Historic District is the Savannah Dog Park, located on 41st and Drayton streets in Savannah’s Starland Community. This park has a shaded, fenced-in area where Fido and Spot can play off the leash.

You can also bring your dog to some downtown restaurants, like Vinnie Van Go-Go’s, provided they sit outside.

Or course, you can bring your dog to Forsyth Park and the city’s wonderful squares. But please keep him/her on a leash.

For more Savannah dog-friendly resources, visit  Savannah Dog Park.

The Historic District in Savannah is one of the most enjoyable walking cities. It boasts landmarks from many famous Revolutionary & Civil War Battles, more than twenty coiffed city squares, some of the nation’s oldest churches, and breathtaking Spanish moss. But before you embark on your walking journey, here are 10 tips to help you enjoy the city:

* Locals aren’t in the know: Don’t be upset if you ask a local where a certain square is located – most locals don’t know the names of all the squares.

* You don’t necessarily need a map: It’s next to impossible to get lost in the Historic District – all the streets run perpendicular and the river is North.

* The best view in town is up: To get a superb look at the downtown from 16 stories high, ride to the top of the Hilton Savannah Desoto on East Liberty Street.  Slip into the main ballroom and ask an employee for permission to take a couple of photos.

* Don’t confine yourself to the beaten path: Veer off it slightly to eat at The Pirate’s House on East Broad Street (on the outskirts of the Historic District), and ask if you can see the tunnel where slaves were escorted from the river.

* Keep it authentic:  Try dining in one of Savannah’s historic restaurants – The Olde Pink House, built in 1771 for James Habersham, one of the wealthiest Americans of his time; or 1790 Inn and Restaurant, located in the cellar of Savannah’s oldest hotel.

* Make sure you relax: Have coffee at Gallery Espresso on the corner of Bull and Perry Streets, and sit outside for some of the best people watching in America.

* Think about the Revolutionary, as well as Civil, War -  The “Siege of Savannah” occurred in 1779, when Franco-American forces attempted to retake Savannah from the British. The siege failed, leaving Savannah in British control until 1782. A landmark commemorating the Siege is off of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

* Enjoy the Spanish Moss from a distance: While the Spanish Moss draping the city is beautiful, don’t pick up any that has fallen to the ground. It’s laden with Red Bugs, also known as Chiggers, and they’ll bite.

* Remember:  The Lady and Sons Restaurant is not the only game in town: While Paula Deen’s restaurant is certainly the most famous, there are other wonderful places to eat.

* Don’t forget your running shoes: Forsyth Park is a great place for a jog or a brisk walk.